On Thanks: A Reward for the Experience - Drew Ginn (Wed 25 Jul 2012)

Boat - Portland Street / Mong Kok / Hong Kong (Mon 09 Jul 2012)
Two days before the London Olympics start, Drew Ginn (*) writes some thank you's. He notes (*):

thanks should not come because of a result or particular place it comes as a reward for the experience

Well said Drew and obviously many thanks to you for sharing your experiences and knowledge so openly and articulately. There is a great book in the making from you blogging over the last 5 years, of which I have been there since April 2007 (wow, it has been that long).

All that is left now is the final preparation (*) and then the racing. As one my own coaches does not believe in the the phrase Good Luck, I will leave you with this (*) from Super Coach Vern Gambetta (*):

[..] you have done the preparation [..] you are in control and you have given yourself a chance. [..] it is not the hand of fate that will touch you rather it is your fate that is in your hands.

Still, I can't help myself, by saying all the best and good luck.

Smile #5 - Circle Line Ferry / Hudson River / New York (Sat 13 Aug 2011)

Smile #5 - Circle Line Ferry / Hudson River / New York (Sat 13 Aug 2011)


Details #1, #2 (Hands) & #3 - Circle Line Ferry / Hudson River / New York (Sat 13 Aug 2011)
I can clearly remember this day and standing at the front of the Ferry as we travelled south along the Hudson River back towards where we had started our journey almost three hours earlier.

A beautiful summers day, in an amazing City - we had travelled from all parts of the planet to share this experience. Three hours together and then we would part, never to meet again. But I have a feeling the photos we have, unite us all and our feelings and emotions of a shared experience.

I remember these moments so clearly, though I had not really looked closely at these photos (*) since I have been back.

This one is my favourite and it has a lot going on (*), as the tiny details above show. It seems to be have a tenderness and a sense of awe about it - strengthened if looked at as a series of photos (*) which bonds everyone together. I would dearly love to give prints to the people in the photos (I was able to do this once in Shanghai, a story for another day).

I am now reminded of this post (*) and it is in moments like this that I am glad to have had this blog to scratch out my thoughts in words (even if they don't really make too much sense at times) and mostly now through my photos (maybe I am just happy, like the Girl above, just hoping for someone to look at my photos - even if it is just me).

It also makes me realise how lucky I have been to be able to do the things I have done.

A warrior of light knows that he has much to be grateful for ..

A warrior of light knows that he has much to be grateful for.

He was helped in his struggle by the angels; celestial forces placed each thing in its place, thus allowing him to give of his best.

His companions [and himself] say [and think]: 'He's so lucky!' And the warrior does sometimes achieve things far beyond his capabilities.

That is why, at sunset, he kneels and gives thanks for the Protective Cloak surrounding him.

His gratitude, however, is not limited to the spiritual world; he never forgets his friends, for their blood mingled with his on the battlefield.

A warrior does not need to be reminded of the help given him by others; he is the first to remember and makes sure to share with them any rewards he receives.

Another page from the Manual of Warrior of Light by Paulo Coelho.

'And the warrior does sometimes achieve things far beyond his capabilities.' - Senior Mixed 500m Final - World Champs - Racice / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Joanne, Gav and Geoff - 'Thank You Gav' - Racice/Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Geoff, George (with one of Joanne's Dangles pinned on the right of his shirt - all the Girls were given one before Prague - first time I have noticed this!') and Joanne - 'Thank You George' - Hotel Duo / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Geoff, Amanda and Joanne - 'Thank You Amanda' - Racice / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Geoff, Rob and Joanne - 'Thank You Rob' - Hotel Duo / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Geoff, George, Amanda, Rob and Joanne - 'Thank You All' - Hotel Duo / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Senior Mixed 500m Final - 'Thank You Guys - Geoff and Jo' - 'As I came across the line I glanced upward and I pointed to the heavens (more here)' Lance A - (F-B, R-L) Deb Cooper, Jo Petterson, George Dimech, Rick Lambe, Helen Hudson, Amanda Wyllie, Geoff Eldridge, Rachel Mosen, Steve McKeogh, Matt Spies, Rob Turnbull, Willy Paku, Gio Cercone, Richard Thomson, Leon Paap, Graeme Bacon, Kristin McKechie, Sharyn Whitton, Karen Hall, Lynne Donohoe, Di Dent and George Louie - 'final seating was a little different to that which was planned as we moved the weight more from the front to the back' - Racice / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Geoff, Joanne, Rachel, Gav, Graeme, Helen, Amanda and Matt - 'Thanks Pacific Dragons Team Mates' - Racice / Prague - Sat 29 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Australian Senior Dragon Boat Open, Womens and Mixed Teams 'Thank You Everyone .. - George Dimech, Deb Hirst, Eileen McKechie, Sharyn Whitton, Donna Hughes, Joanne O'Brien, Jo Petterson, Ewen McDonald, Anne Weber, Geoff Eldridge, Ian George, Deb Cooper, Lisa Mills, David Barber, Leon Paap, Rick Lambe, Diana Dent, Lynne Donohoe, Peter McAlister, Gio Cercone, Frank Calcara, Lisa Fairfull, Kristin McKechie, Ashur Barutha, Rob Turnbull, Pam Jeffery, Kaizer Austin, Matt Spies, Ray Debono, Graeme Bacon, Richard Thomson, Murray Pellicciaro, Becky Bose, Willy Paku, Vince Giannetto, Amanda Wyllie, Mark Pendergast, Danny Monga, Charlotte Richards, Helen Hudson, George Louie, Rachel Mosen, Jane Perkins, Rosemary Riley, Fiona Gray, Linda Collins, Rachel Giang, Steve McKeogh, Doreen MacGillivray, Karen Hall (missing) - Racice / Prague - Tue 25 Aug 2009 (picasa)

'Thanks Pacific Dragons - (l-b-f-r) Rachel, Anne, Norm, Kaizer, Jo, Toby, Helen, Gav, Matt, Annett, Di, Dave, Charlotte, Amanda, Becky, Linda, Lisa, Joanne, Michelle, Geoff, Adam, Darren, Graeme, Billy (and Eugene missing)' - Racice / Prague - Thu 27 Aug 2009 (picasa)

'Thank You Pacific Dragons Family' - (l-b-f-r) Geoff, Graeme, Kaizer, Norm, Lisa, Christian, Darren, Adam, Mark, Todd, Jo, Dave, Matt, Helen, Jenny, Gav, John, Eugene, Kristen, Christoph, PaulC, Mandy, Julia, Craig, Dean, Phil, Toby, Andrew, Shell, Becky, Jo, Bonny, Mel, Kath, Phil, Charlotte, Nicola, Lucy, Di, Dave, Leesa, Rachel, Michelle, PaulS, Suzy, Amanda, Linda, Annett, Billy. - AusDBF 2009 National Dragon Boat Titles - Kawana / Qld - Sun 26 Apr 2009 (picasa)

Thank you - Geoff, Marty, Norm, Christian, Todd and Billy - Had just done a successful Individual Time Trial for Prague that morning at Penrith - just made it to the start and we had a great race all things considered. - State Titles OC6 Long Course - Ettalong - Sat 09 May 2009 (picasa)

'That is why, at sunset, he kneels and gives thanks for the Protective Cloak surrounding him.' - Joanne and Geoff scattering some of Jenny's Ashes at Sunset - Racice / Prague - Sun 30 Aug 2009 (picasa)

Jenny - Thank You Jenny - Our Guiding Light and Inspiration - 'Jenny and Joanne had just handed out their 2008 NSW Team Dangles' - Blackwattle Bay / Sydney - Sun 31 Aug 2008 (picasa)